Celebrities Talk Family, Intentions, and Staying Sober

“Pick a dysfunction and it’s a family problem.” Strong sentiments coming from Robert Downey Junior. His remark is backed by scientific studies. NCAAD states genetics accounts for 50% of the risk for alcohol and drug dependence. So, how does one who has a history of family addiction choose staying sober? For some, that leads back to family.

Robert Downey Junior’s Family History of Addiction

Robert Downey Junior started his journey into addiction at a young age. His father, director Robert Downey Sr., gave him drugs when he was only eight years old. By age 20, he was fully into his addictions.

By the time Junior’s son, Indio Downey, turned 20, he too was struggling with his own addiction and felony drug charges. Both father and son have completed rehab and received pardons from the state of California for criminal drug charges.

Junior credits his recovery to his wife Susan. They have two children together. The couple support Indio’s recovery. He states, “I think part of my destiny has to be realizing that I’m not the poster boy for drug abuse. I’m just this guy who has a really strong sense of wanting home and wanting foundation and having not had it, I now choose to create it.”

Tim McGraw Chose Family Over Addiction

While Tim McGraw doesn’t say if addiction runs in his family, he too attributes staying sober to his wife, Faith Hill, and their children. He was to the point of losing his wife and three daughters when he got help for his drug and alcohol addiction.

James Taylor Talks Addiction, Depression, and Creativity

James Taylor grew up in a family of addicts. Both his father and older brother were addicted to alcohol. His brother succumbed to the disease. Taylor states, “Whether it’s nature or nurture, we tend to be addicted.”

Taylor struggled with heroin addiction in the late 60s when his parents divorced. Several members, including Taylor spent time in a psychiatric hospital for depression. While mental health issues and addiction run in his family, he doesn’t see it as entirely negative. “That’s a double-edged thing—it’s not entirely negative,” he said. “In dealing with it, in contemplating it, in trying to get relief, I think a lot of art is generated.”

Rob Lowe Says Good Intentions to Stay Sober for Others Isn’t Enough

Now 30 years sober, Rob Lowe also attributes getting sober to wanting a family. In an interview with Piers Morgan Tonight in 2011 he stated, “And I wanted a family. I wanted that life badly. I changed my life to get it.” But Lowe is realistic when talking about staying sober. He knows that trying to get sober for others does not work. “You want to get sober for your parents, you want to get sober for your job, you want to get sober for the cops, you want to get sober to protect your image. A lot of good reasons, by the way, but unfortunately, the only thing that works is that you have to want to get sober for you.”

Choose Staying Sober

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, Aion Recovery can help. We offer intervention help, evidence-based treatments, and alternative therapies. As James Taylor stated, in dealing with addiction and depression art can be generated. That’s why Aion Recovery also offers Art and Music Therapy to help channel that energy into a creative process. Call 888-811-2879 to speak with and Addiction Specialist now.